County Sues Taxi Company

Broward County filed suit in Circuit Court on Thursday to shut down a taxi company because its owners say they can`t afford the liability insurance required by the county.

Public Service Corp. of Fort Lauderdale, whose 32 taxicabs and 80 drivers serve mostly low-income neighborhoods, is the first company to be sued under the insurance regulations, which county officials said are meant to safeguard taxi riders.

The rules require $100,000 in insurance for taxicabs with no deductible.

Public Service`s attorney, Marc Kaufman, said there are only two sources for the liability insurance, and one is a competing taxi operator, Jesse Gaddis.